The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-06-19
THE PLUM.
Some OF My Experiences and Expert
menfs.
ny DR. A. scHAFrRAsEK. rALArKa. FLA

| not only Dy all frult growers, but also
by every one who is lover OF fine
fruits. Providence has given TO our de-
lightful State as many resources as can
be, the treasures are yet hidden. but il
once developed, then they will give us
both prosperity AMI happiness. In n
later article we will tell you something
more about it. In the Flora of the
United States and Canada four different
species of the wild plum can be found
OF which two may be observed in the
woods of Palatka's vicinity. and is is
my belief that everywhere, where wild
plums will bear fruit. there can be
cultivated better ones for nature
is very strict and correct in the
destination of her demarcation's
line for the children of Flora. La the
month of February, sometimes in the mid
die of January, with nature awakens
her dormant energies 10 renewed life,
| and We feel sometimes summer in the
sunshine and winter 10 the shade; then
| those who are accustomed 10 watch the
progress of the season can scarcely fail
To notice the many indications of APP
preaching spring, the yiolets on the
lofty. gariands climbing and swinging
from tree tn tree form the committee of
reception for the long desired spring then
good many other little plants may be
seen on every roadside rs spectators, and
the people call them often common
weeds only and yon hear such express
| sions:
Then think aot natures scheme sublime
These common weesis might spare,
For science may detect in time
Thousand virtues there.
Do not look with contempt at these
| small creatures for IL may he that Just
the little plants you despise could save
your life il you would he only wise
enough to learn its qualities. Search in
nature and there you viii lind the living
revelation of the Almighty, there you
| will detect the wisdom of the great
| Architect of the Universe, for there is
| nothing made by Him in vain: on the
contrary every thing has to fulfill mis-
! sion and even the little grass on your way
| side can deliver TO you a sermon more
powerful, more convincing, more de-
| lightful, more truthful and faithful, more
refreshing for both soul and body, than
even the best of all the preachers i'm the
world could and would do; that is TO say,
if you are willing to listen to il. But
let us go back to our subject. If i'm Feb
ruary the wild plums are i'm bloom and
considerable masses of them grow
together all covered with a snowy
wreath of flowers, the appearance is very
peculiar and interesting. Ii seems 10 me
always as if the trees would say: Look
! only, while if you would transplant us
| on your ground, and if you would give
us little attention, we could do far bet
ter, could bear fruit of such "A quality
that would benefit q good many people.
Please take and cultivate us Fruit
growers understood that language and
made fortune out of it.
The cultivated plum resembles the
| common sloe, but Is larger i'm all its parts
| and without thorns. The number of va
| rieties is very considerable and the most
| esteemed appear To have come from Da-
marcus to Europe and following the
| route that civilization and immigration
has opened, plums of good qualities may
be cultivated everywhere inside Of the
line. nature has designated for our
wild plums. Many new varieties have
been introduced from Japan and China,
sorts especially worthy to be cultivated
in our State. The varieties raised for
their fruit have i'm general much larger
leaves and stronger young shoots, they
flower later, their blossoms are larger
and their fruit several times as larger as
the wild plum. The use OF the fuit i'm
domestic economy for the desserts and
for making tarts and pIddings is well
known. In Germany, France, Bohemia,
Hungary and even i'm some places i'm the
Northern States plums are used especial
ly dried, as an article of commerce and
they are known under the name of
Zwetsdren, German Prunes. Brignoles.
French Piums, etc. The fruit of the wild
plums. principally Of the sloe, was former
Iy used to some extent in the manufac-
bruised and put into the wine gives a
beautiful red color and a pleasant sub
acid roughness. Letters written on linen
and wooden with the juice of this plant
will not wash out. The tender leaves
dried are used as "A substitute for tea and
believe that the substitute is often far
better than a good many Of the mixtures
of teas even if they have genuine Chinese
names.
The first plum trees / set out in 1884
went by the names Wildgoose, New
man, DE Caradeux and German prune.
All of them started nicely and COM
menced to bloom last year. The Wild
goose is of rapid growth but shy bearer;
it makes, however, such mass Of run
ners that became tired of il. The like OBJ
ervation l made with the Newman; both
are of less account and, therefore, not
fit for recommendation. DE Caradeux
is a strong grower. The little tree set
out was only one-fourth Of an inch in di-
ameter, while at present the diameter Of
of the tree to-day is between nine and
ten inches; its height is from twelve to
fourteen feet and the whole tree appears
ia good condition to bring forth its fruit
next year. The German prune is bear
ing already.
Last year added to the said varieties
the following sorts Kelsey and Pissardi.
TIE Kelsey is a new variety introduced